drown



Jan. 31, 1956 c. R. DROWN 2,732,871

Claude R Drown w W @M r 4...- y I 27. 72 5.

Jan. 31, 1956 R, DROWN 2,732,871

GOLF BAG Filed May 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inysnfbr' U/az/ae 7?. Drown United States Patent This invention relates to bags of the type used in transporting golf clubs and has reference, more particularly, to a novel light weight bag for carrying the golf clubs about the golf course. More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of an extremely simple golf bag having a dual purpose handle construction and an absolute minimum of weight.

I am, of course, aware that numerous golf bag constructions are known to the prior art. However, to my knowledge, none of these constructions has filled the need for a featherweight golf club carrier which is easily carried about, which provides a substantial amount of protection for the clubs carried thereby, and which may be completely folded into a small bundle when not in use. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an extremely lightweight, fully collapsible golf bag which may be readily folded away when not in use ye: which provides all of the necessary protection for the golf clubs during use and which further provides these features at a minimum of cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light weight, foldable, golf bag which may be carried in the hand or alternatively may be secured to the golfers belt.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf bag having no movable or separable parts thereby rendering its manufacture extremely simple and inexpensive.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a hooded foldable golf bag which may be folded and stored in its hood when not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel carrying means for golf clubs.

Yet another object is to provide a simple, foldable golf bag which may be suspended from the belt or similar garment of the user and detached therefrom without manipulating fasteners or other similar inconvenient securing devices.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf bag which provides a distribution of the golf clubs such that a portion of the clubs may be suspended in front of the golfers body and a portion of them suspended at the rear of the body whereby the weight distribution is equalized and the effect of the load minimized.

Still other and further objects will at once become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings in which several modifications of my invention are disclosed for purposes of illustration only.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the golf bag of the present ICC Figure 4 is a pictorial view showing the manner in which the golf bag of the present invention is carried in the hand;

Figure 5 is a pictorial view showing the manner in which the golf bag constructed according to thepresent invention may be carried suspended from the belt of the invention in its extended position;

golfer;

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the golf bag in combination with the combined hood arid carrying case secured thereto in the position providing a hood;

Figure 7 shows the manner in which the combined hood and carrying case is utilized as a carryi'ng'case;

Figure 8 shows in detail the arrangement of the hood fasteners shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 shows a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 10 shows a partial elevation view of the modification shown in Figure 9 and taken along the line X- X of Figure 9.

As shown on the drawings: As may be seen from a consideration of Figures 1 through 3, the golf bag constructed according to my invention comprises a generally rectangular cloth backing member 10 to which are stitched two front pocket layers 11 and 12. The pocket layers are preferably sewed at their bottoms and sides to the backing member 10, as shown at 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

While the stitching at these portions may, of course, be of the common sort, it is preferred that it be reinforced and for this purpose a plastic welt may be used. Similarly, the openings of the pockets are reinforced either by folding the cloth back upon itself and sewing, as shown at 18 and 19, or by securing a reinforcing welt or web to the edges by any of the common methods.

As may clearly be seen from Figure 1, the pockets 11 and 12 are also stitched to the backing member 10 along the stitching lines 21 and 22, thereby separating the pocket material into four separate pockets. While the pockets are shown stitched longitudinally at only 21 and 22, nevertheless it is clear that should it be desired that the number of pockets be doubled, or that the clubs be individually separated, this could easily be done by stitching the pockets together along longitudinal lines parallel to the stitching 21 and 22. In such a case, the stitching should be of a heavy duty type so that the clubs would not tear it apart under the rather hard usage so often given a golf bag. It is therefore clear that any number of pockets can be provided in this golf bag construction merely by increasing the number of longitudinally extending lines of stitching.

It has been found in practice, that a bag having a width of approximately nine or ten inches and a length of approximately thirty-two inches is satisfactory and that a bag utilizing these dimensions is best suited to carrying eight clubs. Should it be desired to increase the number of clubs carried, at least if it is desired to carry them separately, the bag should be widened somewhat to provide two rows of stitching between the rows 21 and 22 and their respective border edges 13 and 15. This would, of course, provide twelve individual pockets.

The golf bag constructed according to the present invention is, of course, not self-supporting and must depend upon the golf clubs themselves to provide the rigidity desirable in the bag during use. In carrying the bag in the hand it is supported in a balanced member manner by means of a dual purpose handle 23. The handle 23 comprises a T-shaped member having a cross bar portion 23a and a staff portion 23b. The cross bar portion 23a is sewed firmly into the top edge of the cloth backing member 10 by wrapping the material about the cross bar 23a and stitching the cloth 10 at 24. While the material of the backing member 10 is of substantial strength, it has been found desirable to add a reinforcing strip of material a near the top of the bag. This aids in absorbing the loads imposed on the handle 23 during use of the bag. In order to positively locate the cross bar 23a relative to the axis of the bag, it may also be desirable to provide a rivet which passes through both the cloth 1t) and the cross bar 23a.

As viewed in Figure 2, the staff portion of the handle 23 extends below the cloth backing member 10 and substantially parallel thereto. For purposes of clarity, however, the staff 23b is shown diverging slightly away from the bag proper. In view of the flexibility of the cloth material of the bag, it is, of course, apparent that the staff 2311 can be deflected away from the bag proper readily through a substantial are if desired for packing or other purposes.

A handle aperture is cut through the pocket portion 11, the cloth backing 10 and the reinforcing strip 10a as shown at 26 and is reinforced around its four edges as at 27. While this aperture has been shown to pass through only the pocket 11 and the backing cloth it nevertheless it is apparent that if so desired it could extend into the cloth of pocket 12 also.

In order to prevent the staff 23b of the handle 23 from passing through the aperture from the back of the bag to the front, the staff is constructed to extend a short distance beyond the lower end of the aperture. It has been found in practice that approximately a two inch extension of the staff 23b past the edge of the aperture is satisfactory for this purpose.

A ball pocket is provided for carrying golf tees, golf balls and other miscellaneous small items and may be open at the top as shown, or it may be provided with a zipper or other similar closure means.

A consideration of Figures 4 and 5 will readily show how the golf bag constructed to the present invention may be carried by the golfer. In Figure 4 the bag is shown being carried by the handle 23. In this position the golfers fingers are passed through the aperture 26 from above, and passed around the staff 23b of the T-shaped handle 23. Since the staff 23b is longer than the aperture 26, the edges of the aperture prevent the staff from passing therethrough. In this manner the staff 2312 is maintained against the reinforcing strip of material ltla.

In the position shown in Figure 4, the golf clubs are of suflicient weight to cause the sides of the golf club compartments to hang laterally downwardly. In this manner the clubs are supported by the stitched edges 13 and 15 and are prevented from passing out through the bottom of the bag by the stitching 14. While it is, of course, possible to eliminate the cross bar 23a and thereby permit the sides of the golf bag to hang laterally down from the staff 23b in close proximity thereto, it has been found advantageous to utilize the cross bar and thereby cause the bag to fold at points adjacent the ends thereof, as shown at 32 and 33 in Figure 4. By causing the bag to fold at 32 and 33, the clubs in the pocket portions on opposite sides of the handle staff 23b are maintained somewhat separated.

The cross bar is also of further use in maintaining the staff 23b in axial alignment with the aperture and in providing a larger area of stitching thus minimizing the danger of the handle 23 becoming torn away from or otherwise separated from the cloth of the golf bag.

The cross bar 2312 also serves another reinforcing function which will become apparent from a consideration of Figure 5. In this figure the bag is shown worn about the belt of the golfer. Instead of grasping the staff 23b through the aperture, it is instead inserted vertically inside of the golfers belt and trousers. In such use, the trousers and belt would lie between the staff 23b and the reinforcing strip 10a, with the weight of the bag being applied to the top edge of the belt at the cross bar portions 230 and 23d.

When worn at the side of the golfer, the golf clubs are positioned with the clubs in the pockets formed by the stitching 22 and 15 positioned behind the golfers back and while the clubs located in the pocket formed by the stitching 21 and 13 are positioned in front of the golfers arm. This arrangement permits the golf club load to be equalized along the general center line of the golfers body and has been found to greatly relieve the usual strain resulting from carrying the clubs either all before or all behind the golfer as is done with the ordinary golf bag.

It is, of course, recognized that when the golfer is about to address the ball, he will lift upwardly on the bag by the edges of the cross bar, as at 23c and 23d thereby removing the staff 23b from behind his belt. The shot may then be made and the staff 23b reinserted for carrying the bag and clubs to the spot where the next shot is to be made.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I have shown the use of a novel combination hood and carrying case which has proven valuable in combination with the bag above-described. Preferably the hood is made of a transparent plastic and is of suflicient length to cover the usual golf clubs when in the golf bag. By providing snaps 35 on both sides of the golf bag and by reversing the mating halves of the snaps on the two sides of the golf bag as shown in Figure 8, it is possible to utilize the snaps on the hood together when the hood is removed from the bag. Thus, it is possible to remove the hood from the bag, fold up the bag into a preferably three layer bundle, place the bundle in the bag and then snap the bag shut by means of the snaps 35 as shown in Figure 7.

It may be found desirable when utilizing a combination golf bag and hood-carrying case to make the pocket 12 of equal length to the pocket 11. This would then permit the placement of the snaps 35 at the upper edge 18 of the pocket 12 and at the same time provide cover for all of the club shafts.

In Figures 9 and 10 a modication of the present inventron is shown in which the staff 23b is stitched at 36 to the back cover 10 of the golf bag. In this modification it is then necessary to utilize a U-shaped clip 37 for hooking the bag over the belt. While this modification is of course as serviceable as the preferred modification shown in Figures 1 through 3, it is nevertheless more expensive and hence economicaly less desirable. Further, the provision of the upstanding hook member 37 causes the bag to assume a greater bulk when folded to the position shown in Figure 7.

It is recognized that various materials can be utilized both in the golf bag proper and in the handle member 23. I have found that the usual canvas or rubber impregnated plastics such as nylon very suitable for the manufacture of the backing and pocket material. The only limitation on the material for these parts of the golf bag is the requirement that they be sufficiently flexible to permit the weight of the golf clubs to bend the pockets laterally downwardly as shown in Figure 4. It is, of course, desirable that the material be waterproofed in order to protect the clubs in case of rain but such a provision is not necessary. The T-shaped handle 23 is preferably made of Plexiglas or other similar plastic since these materials do not splinter or otherwise fray. While plywood has been found acceptable for this purpose, it is not as desirable as the plastic materials since constant use of the handle, especially when the bag is carried from the belt, will cause splinters to develop, which splinters will, of course, tend to fray the clothes of the golfer.

As mentioned before, the hood of the bag may be manufactured of any of the clear sheet plastic now readily available. It is desirable that the material be transparent so that the golfer can see through it when it is being utilized to protect the clubs when golfing in the rain. In this connection it is noted that the utilization of a zipper around the edges of the hood, or at least one edge thereof my prove desirable when the hood is intended to be utilized on the golf course as a rain protector. This will then permit the removal and insertion of clubs from the bag without the removal of the entire I hood therefrom. However, this added feature is, of course a refinement which is not essential to the proper operation of the golf bag.

It is apparent from the above disclosure, that I have provided a novel, extremely simple golf bag and hood combination which will supply the needs of the ordinary Sunday golfer. The golf bag is extremely light, adequately protects the golf clubs and may be folded into an extremely small package when not in use. Further, the bag provides an unusually flexible carrying handle which will permit the positioning of the golf clubs both in front of and in back of the golfer during his walking, thereby minimizing the effect of the load on him.

It will, of course, be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of my invention.

a 1 claim as my invention:

1. A golf bag comprising a generally rectangular fiat bag having longitudinally extending pockets therein, said bag having means defining an aperture therethrough ad jacent one end thereof, a T-shaped handle member on back of the bag, said handle having the cross bar thereof secured adjacent the top edge of said bag and having the staff thereof lying substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag and adjacent the back side thereof and extending across and beyond said aperture, whereby said bag may be supported by grasping said staif through said aperture.

2. A golf bag comprising agenerally rectangular, fiat bag having longitudinally extending pockets therein, said bag having means defining an aperture therethrough ad jacent the top edge thereof, a handle member extending longitudinally of said bag along the back thereof and lying across said aperture, said handle having one end thereof secured to said bag adjacent the top edge thereof and the other end thereof extending beyond the opposite edge of said aperture, whereby said bag may be suspended by grasping said handle through said aperture.

3. A golf bag comprising a first substantially rectangular backing portion, a second substantially rectangular pocket portion secured at one of its ends and both of its sides to corresponding portions of said backing member and being further secured to said backing member by means of longitudinally extending stitching whereby a plurality of longitudinally extending pockets are formed, means defining aligned apertures extending through said backing member and said pocket member and having joined and reinforced edges, and a handle member comprising a T-shaped member secured to the back of the bag, the cross bar of said T being secured adjacent to the top edge of said backing member and the staff of said T extending longitudinally across said apertures to a said carrying case having an open edge and a pair of snap fasteners at the said open edge, the snap fasteners on said bag and said case comprising two pairs of mating snap fastener segments, the male segment on said case mating with the female snap on said bag and the female snap portion on said case mating with the male snap on said bag whereby said case may be utilized as a cover when snapped to the mating snaps on said bag or may be utilized as a carrying case by mating the snaps on the case directly.

5. A golf bag comprising a generally rectangular, fiat bag of flexible material having longitudinally extending pockets therein, said bag having a generally longitudinally extending belt-engaging hook positioned on the back at the top edge thereof substantially on the longitudnial center line thereof, said longitudinally extending pockets being positioned on both sides of said hook whereby said golf bag may be suspended from the belt or similar article of clothing of the golfer by said hook and whereby golf clubs positioned in said pockets will extend on opposite sides of said hook to thereby distribute the weight of such clubs evenly.

6. A golf bag comprising a flat bag having longitudinally extending pockets therein, means defining an aperture therethrough adjacent the top edge thereof, and a substantially rigid handle member extending longitudinally across said aperture said handle being secured by at least one end thereof to the back surface of said bag and having its opposite end extending beyond the opposite edge of said aperture whereby said bag may be suspended by grasping said handle through said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,369 Farmer July 27, 1915 1,437,349 Moore, Jr. Nov. 28, 1922 1,597,870 Reach Aug. 31, 1926 1,920,308 Hiles Aug. 1, 1933 2,010,166 Thompson Aug. 6, 1935 2,256,521 Kirkpatrick et a1 Sept. 23, 1941 

